Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine for converting a sheet-like stock material into a dunnage product includes a frame having an upstream end and a downstream end, conversion assemblies, mounted on the frame, which convert the sheet-like stock material into a continuous strip of a dunnage product, a feeding assembly, mounted on the frame, for feeding the stock material through the conversion assemblies, a cutting assembly, mounted on the frame downstream of the conversion assemblies, which cuts the continuous strip of dunnage into a section of a desired length, a probe for determining the packaging requirements of a particular container, and a controller which controls the feeding and cutting assemblies to produce the required sections of dunnage product for the container as determined by the probe.

Abstract: A bag maker-packaging machine adapted for use with formers having different sizes uses pull-down belts to pull by suction an elongated film which has been tubularly formed by a former. When a new former is installed, the pull-down belts are moved from specified belt reference positions towards the surface of the film in a tubular form, and the distance travelled by them until they come into contact with the film surface is measured. After the size of the former is thus identified, positions of some of the components such as a guide roller and a turn bar for the transportation of film to the former are adjusted accordingly. Data corresponding to different former sizes may be stored in a memory and compared with the identified size of the former currently installed. The user can see on a display device what kinds of product can be packaged by using this identified former and may also be informed if the memory does not store any data for formers of the identified size.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for sealing material in sheets, which have been pre-coated with beads of glue affected by heat, preferably electronically printed toner beads, the beads coming into engagement with each other after folding the sheet into such as the configuration of an envelope or the like, the sheet then being advanced into the machine for adhering the beads to each other. In accordance with the invention, the machine includes a first sealing zone (12) and a second sealing zone (13), which are arranged at 90.degree. to each other with advancing means (36,38, 34,47) for conveying the respective sheet through the sealing zones, each sealing zone having one or more pairs of rotationally driven sealing discs (14,15,18,19,23,26). Each pair of sealing discs includes a first disc (14,15,23) heated by heating means, and a second, preferably freely rotating, disc (18,19,26) engaging against the first disc with a pre-settable pressure.

Abstract: A machine for sealing the top and/or bottom flaps of random size cases is disclosed. The location of the front and rear of cases moved through the machine by a conveyor is continuously monitored by a programmable controller that uses the location information to control the operation of various case alignment, flap folding, and glue-applying mechanisms. Case entry is initially prohibited by a raised gate. When the conveyor reaches a predetermined position the gate is lowered and a case enters the machine. As a case enters the machine, the case is aligned along the center of the case path of travel through the machine; and a T-deck drops to allow the bottom major flaps to separate from the bottom minor flaps. Such separation is necessary for the bottom flaps to be sealed simultaneously with the top flaps. If the bottom flaps are sealed when the case enters the machine, no separation occurs.

Abstract: Control apparatus controls the operation of a trailing edge folder in a carton blank folding machine. The folding machine has conveyor means for continuously advancing blanks in a predetermined direction in untimed relationship to one another along a generally horizontal path. The trailing edge folder has a rotatable shaft mounted below and transverse to the path. The shaft has mounted thereon for rotation therewith one or more arms which extend outwardly from the axis of the shaft. Folding heads extend from the distal ends of the arms. The control apparatus has a sensor which produces a trailing edge signal indicating the departure of the trailing edge of a blank from a first location along the path upstream of the folder. At the end of a determined interval after the trailing edge signal the shaft is rotated in the direction in which the carton is travelling so that a head on the shaft comes into contact with the trailing panel of the blank, and folds it over about 180.degree..

Abstract: A case sealing machine, wherein the position of cases moving through the machine is continuously monitored by a programmable controller that uses information about case position to control the operation of various flap folding and glue applying mechanisms, is disclosed. Cases are moved through the machine by a chain-driven flight bar conveyor mechanism. Case entry is prevented by a raised gate until the flight bar conveyor mechanism is synchronized. Thereafter, the gate is lowered and a power roller feeds the case into the machine. After entering the machine, a case is pushed through the machine by the flight bar conveyor mechanism. The programmable case sealing machine can be programmed to seal the top and/or bottom of the case. If the bottom is to be sealed, the bottom major flaps of the case are separated from the bottom minor flaps by a T-deck mechanism as the case enters the machine. If the bottom of the case was previously sealed, the T-deck is rendered inoperative by the program.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the relative circumferential setting of at least two rotating elements of a machine for operating on a moving web are provided wherein a first of the elements serves as a measurement reference. An electric reference pulse is generated for each revolution of the first element, along with a train of clock pulses wherein each count corresponds to an increment of rotation. A marker pulse is generated for each revolution of the second element, and the count pulses generated subsequent to generation of a reference pulse and up to and simultaneous with generation of the next succeeding marker pulse are counted, thereby providing a relative rotational measurement. The count is retained in a memory until the next succeeding count is completed.

Abstract: In a machine for wrapping individual articles with a thermoplastic film, a device is provided for correctly positioning the film, which is for example printed with certain symbols, relative to the articles. Said device comprises a mechanism for detecting at every instant the position of an article, a photoelectric cell for detecting the position of the film and a comparison circuit which receives signals from both the detecting means. The comparison circuit comprises logical gates (of AND type) and storage means and is associated to timing means for actuating a motor so as to increase or reduce the speed of the film consistently with the positive or negative results of the speed comparison made by the comparison circuit, or to leave said speed unaltered when the phase relationship between the film and the articles has been found correct.

Abstract: A process and arrangement for controlling a pipe-cutting device for cutting pipe formed on a continuously operating spiral winding machine which forms a pipe from a band of wound sheet material such as paper. The pipe-cutting device is adapted to move along the formed pipe at a speed corresponding to the feeding speed of the band which is being guidingly fed at a predetermined feed angle toward the pipe-forming spindle of the spiral winding machine. An arrangement is provided in a continuous spiral pipe-winding machine for controlling the movement of a cutting member.

Abstract: Box blanks produced from a moving web by a paperboard corrugator are shingled on a stacker conveyor. The corrugator includes a shear which severs the web in response to a production run change signal into leading and trailing portions. A cut-off machine cuts the severed web portions into the box blanks. Box blanks cut from the leading portion of the severed web are part of the old production run. Box blanks cut from the trailing portion of the severed web are part of the new production run. The leading edge of the trailing portion of the severed web is tracked to the cut-off machine. The trailing edge of the first full size box blank of the new production run is detected at a first position relative to the stacker conveyor. The trailing edge of the first full size box blank is then tracked to a second position on the stacker conveyor. When the trailing edge of the first full size box blank reaches the second position, a command signal is generated.